Everything you need to know about the HMD Global 2018 Nokia X

Posted:
Thursday, May 10, 2018 5:19 AM EDT

By Andy Boxall

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HMD Globalis preparing to bring back another Nokia phone name from the past. Unlike the Sirocco and 8110 it resurrected at Mobile World Congress, this one is likely a little less beloved. It’s the Nokia X, a phone range killed off in 2014, which tried but didn’t quite manage to bring Android to old Nokia phones. Here’s what we know about the phone so far.

Announcement and name

When will the Nokia X be announced, and what name will HMD Global use for the phone?Nokia may release the X as the Nokia X6, at least in some places. While teasers have simply referred to the device as the Nokia X, rumors continue to spread it will be called the Nokia X6. A Bluetooth certification list shows a phone with the model number TA-1099 — the same as the Nokia X’s TENAA certification documentation — actually being called the Nokia X6.

The Nokia X has been teased through official sources, so we know something with the name X is coming from Nokia and HMD Global. Initially,ads for a Nokia Xwere spotted in China, complete with an announcement date of April 27 attached. While a phone was apparently shown on April 27 in China, it wasn’t shown publicly, and details about it are slim. Instead, it seems the Nokia X will be announced on May 16. This date has also been mentioned on Nokia’s official Weibo page, along with a photo of the phone itself.

Before, a teaser was posted on Nokia’s Weibo channel, showing shipping containers labeled Nokia X, and text hinting that we may see more than one model.

The teaser images for the Nokia X have only been seen in China at this time. This may indicate the device isn’t destined for international release, at least initially. While the Nokia name is known all around the world, HMD Global has repeatedly launched its smartphones in China first the Nokia 5, Nokia 6 and Nokia 7, for example and maintaining this pattern for the Nokia X wouldn’t be a surprise.

Specification

If you’re intrigued by the Nokia X, and the revival of the name, what about the rumored phone’s specification? A phone with the model number TA-1099 has been through the TENAA certification process in China — where phones are approved for use — and it has a design which matches what we’re seeing for the Nokia X. The details published online reveal plenty about the phone’s abilities.

A 5.8-inch screen will dominate the front, with a 2,280 x 1,080 pixel resolution, signifying the aspect ratio will be beyond that of the 18:9 trend we’ve seen recently. The processor will likely be a Snapdragon 636 running at 1.8GHz, with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, or with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage. A MicroSD card slot will provide expansion. A 3,000mAh battery will power the Nokia X, along with Android 8.1 onboard.

The dual-lens cameras on the rear may have 16 megapixels each, a figure repeated for the selfie camera on the front. The images accompanying the TENAA certification show a rear fingerprint sensor. Previously, rumors had spread about a Nokia X6, and the leaks related to it closely match those for the TA-1099 and the Nokia X, potentially meaning they are all the same smartphone.

Design

What will the Nokia X look like? Controversially, it will have a screen notch, following a growing trend in the mobile industry. Chinese retailer Suning has advertised the Nokia X through its official Weibo page, and apparently stating the phone will be a competition prize. The flier that accompanies the message shows the device we’ve been seeing in leaks, complete with a screen notch, and a vertically stacked dual-lens rear camera.

The image published by Suning matches the mystery phone posted by Nokia, also on its official Weibo page in China, recently. The message included news the phone would launch on May 16, and although it didn’t provide the name, it’s almost certainly the Nokia X. The pictured phone is identical to other images both leaked and published officially. It shows a small notch at the top of the screen, and a chin at the opposite end.

It’s very similar in design to the image leaked ina tweet from Ben Geskin — best known for his Apple iPhone leaks — showing live images of the Nokia X (or Nokia X6), and further teasers from China.

A phone said to be the Nokia X appeared in a very brief video, which may have been filmed at the mystery April 27 event, and shows the phone from the front and rear. You’ll have to be quick to spot details though, and the notch is hardly visible in the quick look. However, we do see a dual-lens camera array on the back.

These are alldifferent from a leak apparently showing another notched Nokia phone, referred to as the Nokia X6.

The leak, which cannot be verified at the moment, shows a small chin under the screen, and a vertically mounted dual-lens camera on the back. Copper-colored highlights give the white body some flair, and are reminiscent of Nokia phones we’ve seen before. A fingerprint sensor is underneath the camera array.

History

Long-time Nokia and phone fans will recall that in 2014, Nokia then under Microsoft’s control launched several Nokia X phones, all with Android rather than Windows Phone. However, the Nokia X version of Android didn’t feature Google Play, or any of the familiar Google services, and instead pushed Microsoft services including Skype and Outlook. Since HMD Global took over ownership of the Nokia name, it has introduced true Android to the brand.